France condemned over invitation issued to Mugabe

FRANCE has confirmed it is inviting Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to take part in a meeting of African leaders next month.

Mr Mugabe is currently banned from entering the EU because of doubts about the legitimacy of his re-election last year.

But French Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said he was being invited to discuss human rights and democracy.

The EU travel ban, along with a freeze on his assets, were imposed last February. The British government will seek to renew it at a meeting of foreign ministers next week.

If the sanctions are not extended, Mr Mugabe will be able to attend the summit on 19 February the day after they expire.

As relations between Britain and Zimbabwe have deteriorated, France has been moving closer to Mr Mugabe's government.

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has condemned the French offer.

"Any avenue granted to Mugabe to attend international meetings at which he is treated as a statesman and an equal is an affront to the feelings of the people of Zimbabwe," said MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

British minister Peter Hain said: "As far as we are concerned he is not welcome in Europe. Our views on his odious regime and the way he is devastating his country are well known."

But British MEP Glenys Kinnock said Britain was considering doing a deal to let Mr Mugabe attend the Franco-African summit.

London might allow the Paris visit to happen in return for an assurance Mr Mugabe will not be invited to the EU-Africa summit in Portugal in May, she said.

A total of 72 people closely linked to Zimbabwe's leaders are subject to EU sanctions. The US also imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders after the controversial re-election.

The MDC and some donors accuse the Zimbabwe government of diverting food aid from opposition areas despite the severe food crisis in the country. Up to eight million people need food aid, donors say.

Mr Mugabe blames the shortages on drought, but the opposition and donors say his controversial land reform programme has worsened the situation.

Several MDC MPs have been arrested in recent weeks, accused of planning to disrupt cricket World Cup matches, which Zimbabwe is hosting days before Mr Mugabe travels to Paris.